When North America was colonized, European settlers brought building traditions from their home countries. Houses built along the northeastern coast, where the British settled, are quite different from houses the French colonists built in the Mississippi Valley and houses the Spanish colonists built in Florida and California.
German, Dutch, Swiss, and other Europeans also brought their own special traditions. Between 1600 and 1800, European styles adapted to meet the challenges posed by the climate and landscape of the new country. Using locally available materials and learning new building techniques from Native Americans, the colonists developed not one, but many, uniquely American styles.
Centuries later, builders borrowed ideas from early American architecture to create Colonial Revival and Neocolonial styles. Architecture from America's colonial period continues to influence the houses we build today.
Images 1-10 of 10
- 1600s - 1740: New England ColonialBuilt in 1678, this New England Colonial has two stories and a central chimney
- 1600s - 1950s: Colonial Cape CodThe New England Colonial style was re-invented in the 20th century.
- 1600 - 1900: Spanish ColonialConstructed with stucco or coquina
- 1600s - mid-1800s: German ColonialThick stone walls
- 1625 - mid-1800s: Dutch ColonialThe John Teller House is a Dutch Colonial home in Schenectady, NY
- 1690s - 1830: Georgian Colonial House StylesThis refined early American style continues to shape our homes today.
- 1700 - 1860: French ColonialPorches were used as living space on homes built by French colonists
- 1780 - 1840: Federal and Adam House StylesGraceful details distinguish Federal style homes
- 1876 - 1955: Colonial Revival Colonial Revival houses romanticized North America's colonial past
- 1965 - present: Neocolonial Details on this modern-day home are inspired by American Colonial and Federal architecture
- Graphic Index
- Text Index